The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-07-06

ment of the subjects involved ranks
with the best specimens of judicial
disquisition."
In entering into political life Judge
Poland displayed the same eminent
ability, unhagging energy and fertility
of resource which had marked his
course in his earlier career. When
the republican party was organized he
became one of the most active and un-
wavering of its members. In the sem
ate he at once took distinguished po-
sition among the republican lawyers of
that body. Being placed upon the
judiciary committee, the bankrupt bill
which had been passed by the house
was intrusted to his care, and by skill
full management he secured its passage.
Judge Poland was elected to the
fortieth, forty-frst, forty-second, forty
third and forty-eighth congresses, and
no member of either branch of con-
gress was so intimately identified with
so many important measures. He
figured conspicuously as chairman of
several important committees, among
others the committee on ku-kluXism,
the committee on the credit mobilier
investigation and the committee on the
question of the Arkansas governor
ship under Grants administration.
In all these he discharged the diff
ficult duties devolving upon him
with great sagacity and tact. He
was known by both parties in con-
gress to be judiciously fair and was
never carried away by blind partisan
ship in any of his duties. Judge
Poland was the originator of the meas
ure for the revision of the United
States laws, and his plan was substan
TALLY carried out. He also took
prominent part in the Geneva award
matter. In 1876 Judge Poland's name
was suggested in connection with the
nomination for the vice-presidency.
Ilc WAS Cldlliudu VI tuc Clluonl uClc-
CATION to the republican national con-
vention in that year, and it is stated
that his efforts procured the nomina-
ton of Vice-president Wheeler. In
1873 he was a representative to the
legislature from st. Johnsbury and
was chairman of the house judiciary
committee. In 1886 he represented
Waterville in the house and again
served as chairman of the judiciary
committee.
Since leaving the bench, in 1865,
Judge Poland had engaged somewhat
in the practice of law, appearing in i'm
portant cases both in the state and
United States courts. From its organ
ization for twenty-five years he was
president of the First National Bank of
st. Johnsbury. In 1885 he purchased
the old homestead of his father-in-law
in Waterville, which he had since made
his home for a part of the time. In 1858
the University of Vermont conferred
upon him the honorary degree of Mas
ter of Arts and in 1861 that of Doctor of
Laws. In 1873 he became member
of its board of trustees. In 1882 he
founded the Westford scholarship in
this institution in honor of his native
town. Judge Poland was married
January y, 1898, to Martha Smith,
daughter of DR.. William Page of Water
vile. BY this marriage he had three
children Martin l., who was a gradu-
ate of West Point and died at Fort Yuma
in 1873, Mary, who died in 1865, and
Isabel, now the wife of A. E. Rankin
of st. Johnsbury. Mrs. Poland died
in 1853, and in 1854 Judge Poland
married Adelia H. Page, sister of his
deceased wife, who survives him.
Judge Poland was a man of remark
ably fine appearance; his bearing was
courtly and his self-possession great.
He was courteous and genial in social
intercourse and had the natural, win
ming gift of persuasion. He reasoned
logically and stated his views clearly.
Like other men, he had faults, but
perhaps not more than the average of
the better class of citizens. Although
he had nearly finished his active ca
reer, his sudden and unexpected death
will be regretted and mourned by a
large circle of friends and acquaint-
ances throughout the state and country.